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Light Speed Individual Open Buzzer Quiz: News 11: 27th October 2003 More Photos
ASHMAN COMPLETES OXFORD DOUBLE
A brilliant weekend's quizzing in Oxford saw Kevin Ashman add his debut LSQ victory to his team victory in Saturday's Masoquism event (details). The cellar bar at the Three Goats' Heads (TGH), proved a perfect venue as ten superb quizzers thrashed out an exciting and dynamic series of games (see Results). The quiz moved away from the 1st buzz format using software enabling each buzz to be given a time. Eight players contested each game and many times less than half a second split the competitors, the record being around two tenths bracketing the whole lot. 
The fastest recorded press was Steve Kidd's 0.7074 seconds on "What sc.." during the Simpson's special. The system was a revalation, in that everybody got a shout. The disbelief of pressing in on an answer and seing five players in front of you is something you can only witness first hand to believe.
The quiz was also notable in that six 'rookies' once again upped the standard. Steve Pearson, Will Jones, James Webb, Sean Carey, Peter Ediss and Kevin Ashman (see Players) truly kicked. I hope and pray that we can see them again. I was trying to pick my dream eight and I dare not tell who would not be in it
Kevin Ashman would, nevertheless, be my first choice. This modest man who many observers would say is the best quizzer in our country of 58 million, like any good competitor makes it look so easy. The light speed format is such that no result is nailed on. In the first game Stephen Pearson and Peter Ediss swashbuckled Kevin into third place. Half way through the second Kevin got into his gentle stride, overtook Steve Kidd, won, and never looked back. He scored 54 total points in his last two games whilst the massed opposition, comprising some fine competitors, shared only 43 between themselves. How the hell did he know who Oldham's top scorer was?
The final was not quite "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere", but... OK it was then. A just result saw Kevin win the £70 whilst Steve Pearson got the £30 quite comfortably (see Results).
My overiding impression that it was such pure unadulterated Quiz fun. I feel like a kid who has been asked by the England team if I'd like a kick around for a few hours. If you read this and have not participated in LSQ, the next event is at Bromley on Sunday November 16th, and back to Oxford (probably) at the end of next month (more details to follow). The new format has taken the quiz onto a different level. It is compelling, thrilling and addictive and anybody can do it. Join in.
P.S. Steve Kidd won the Simpsons Quiz set by Darren Martin and hosted by Kevin. This was naturally regarded as the Blue Riband event of the weekend.
Thanks to competitors, Leslie and Delaan at the pub and Barry Simmons for an excellent set of bespoke questions.
Bromley's specialist round will be
"The 50 most famous things about UK number one hits from 1978"
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